Biosecurity - Target (Boneseed) Agent/s (Leafroller) - Essay Example

With this in mind, the New Zealand government has taken several measures to try and curb the spread of the boneseed species. In recent years, boneseed infestation in New Zealand has been noted to increase to disconcerting levels. With this in mind, the New Zealand government has implemented a program that will be used in the eradication of the boneseed infestation menace in the country through the use of biological control methods that have been proven to have relatively minimal effects on the environment and are cheaper as compared to the use of non-biological methods such as the use of pesticides.

The boneseed plant is not indigenous to New Zealand, and its origins can be traced to South Africa. Due to the presence of insects that feed on the plant in South Africa, the spread of the plant is under control there, and it is perceived as a garden plant because of its beautiful flowers. However, when the plant was introduced to New Zealand as a garden plant, it grew out of control as a result of the lack of insects that could feed on it and hence be able to control its population. The boneseed leaf roller, Tortrix s.l.sp.

chrysanthemoides, a natural predator of the boneseed. It reduces the spread of the plant by feeding on its foliage. When the caterpillar of the moth appears, it goes directly to the leaves of the boneseed and starts feeding on it , hence killing the plant. An application to use the leaf roller in the containment and control of the leaf roller was put forth by an organization that was referred to as the Environment Canterbury. In the application, the organization was careful to explain why the leaf roller was the best option for the control of the boneseed plant and any adverse environmental effects the leafroller could have.

After careful deliberation and discussion by a subcommittee of the “New Organisms (Non-GMO) Committee of the Authority”, the use of the leaf roller as a biological control agent of the boneseed